Scribes man Mayhem pix

Farmer, Christensen hired for upstart shingle

Fledgling production and financing outfit the Mayhem Project has made its first two writer deals, inking scribe Todd Farrmer to adapt Capcom vidgame “Clock Tower 3″ and Ronnie Christensen for his original supernatural thriller “Sanctuary.”

Launched in June, Mayhem hopes to produce two to three features per year, targeting projects based on established franchises such as comicbooks and vidgames; budgets will be $10 million-$30 million.

Chief exec Anthony Mosawi and production prexy Brad Luff lead the shingle.

Mosawi was most recently chief operating officer of Mutual Film, where he negotiated financing arrangements with overseas distribs and partners on films including “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.” He started out in the film business in the Paramount Pictures legal department.

Luff was most recently production prexy at Morgan Creek; prior to that he served as exec VP for Original Film.

“Our plans are to commence production for both ‘Sanctuary’ and ‘Clock Tower’ in 2006,” Mosawi said. “Being a boutique production and development company, we can cut through a lot of the standard red tape, permitting us to move quickly on acquiring projects followed by a timely move into development and production.”

Mayhem says it is backed by two European private equity firms that have given the shingle an overhead arrangement, annual development fund and production financing.

“What makes us unique is that we seek upscale genre films, we take risk upfront, and we intend to make everything we acquire,” Luff said.

Farmer’s previous credits include “Jason X” and “The Messenger,” while Christensen has written “Passengers” and “Smoke.”

Mayhem has also hired two production execs. Jennifer Rogers joins after doing stints at New Line and Platinum Dunes; Paul Doble was most recently a development director at Mutual.